She had left less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
A guard dressed entirely in black approached, holding clean clothes, followed by a commoner youth physician.
The two walked through the bamboo grove to the side of the pool.
There, they saw the man in the pool slowly open his eyes.
The guard was greatly alarmed: “Master, how are you awake?”
The man’s brows tightened, and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, his breathing rapid and his heartbeat erratic, yet the bone-chilling cold and intense pain had lessened considerably.
A flicker of confusion passed through his deep eyes. Each time after taking the medicine, it took two hours to regain consciousness, but this time he had awakened unusually early, and moreover…
Feeling a certain part of his body standing erect, the man frowned.
How could this be…
Seeing that his master did not respond, the black-clad guard took a few steps closer: “Master, are you all right…”
His expression tense, he called out to the physician behind him: “Zhaoyun, come quickly and take the master’s pulse. Did you give Your Excellency the wrong medicine due to your inadequate skill?”
The man looked up at him: “Silence!”
Scolded, the black-clad guard rubbed his nose and dared not utter another word.
The commoner youth set the medicine chest aside, pushed the black-clad guard back a bit, and stepped forward to take the man’s pulse.
The moment his two fingers touched the man’s wrist, Zhaoyun’s expression changed dramatically, and his gaze toward his master became somewhat awkward.
“M-master… you…”
The man frowned: “If you continue to be hesitant, I will have someone pull out your tongue.”
Zhaoyun wore a pained expression: “Master, the poison in your body is not an issue; it seems to have even lessened somewhat. It’s just…”
He faced death with equanimity: “It’s just that you seem… seem to have been deflowered by a woman. Excessive indulgence has impaired your vital yang, leaving your body somewhat depleted. You need to rest and recuperate properly… for a period of time.”
The man’s expression instantly darkened to the extreme.
Zhaoyun shrank his neck under the man’s icy gaze.
The man said coldly: “Do you know what you are saying?”
Deflowered by a woman? Excessive indulgence?
Utterly absurd!
Just as he was about to rise, his hand touched something in the water. Pinching it between two fingers, he found it was a small pearl hairpin.
Enraged, he instead laughed. It seemed there really had been a bold woman here.
“Wei Cang.”
Hearing Your Excellency call him, the black-clad guard immediately stepped forward: “Your Excellency.”
The man’s gaze turned coldly toward him: “This is the fine work you’ve done!”
Wei Cang trembled all over at the sight of the hairpin in Your Excellency’s hand. Today was his guard duty, yet such a mistake had occurred.
If it had not been a woman who came today, but an assassin… then ten thousand deaths could not atone for it.
Wei Cang immediately knelt: “This subordinate deserves death! Please punish me, Your Excellency!”
“After returning, go to the Punishment Hall and receive 300 lashes.”
“Yes, thank you, Your Excellency.”
The man stepped out of the pool and threw the hairpin in front of Wei Cang.
“Find this person and kill her!”
Jiang Yu was still unaware that she had provoked a big trouble.
After emerging from the bamboo grove, she did not return to the previous meditation room. Instead, she turned her steps and headed toward the courtyard on the east side.
In the Great Yong Dynasty, the east is respected. Although the Jiang family had once been imperially bestowed the title of Number One Merchant Under Heaven, they were, after all, still a merchant household.
Thus, they were arranged in the meditation rooms on the west side.
The courtyard on the east side, however, was somewhat distant from the other courtyards, very quiet, and always used to entertain noble persons.
Residing there was Princess Yong’an, born of the Imperial Noble Consort favored above all in the six palaces!
This visit to Lingquan Temple was for the noble families to accompany the imperial family in holding a soul pacification ceremony for the soldiers who had fallen at the southern border.
This matter involves imperial dignity; the princess would not allow any mistakes to occur.
The courtyard on the east side was heavily guarded. As soon as Jiang Yu stepped inside, she was surrounded by guards.
Jiang Yu immediately knelt down: "Jiang Yu, daughter of the Jiang family, requests an audience with the princess."
The courtyard of the temple's meditation room was not large.
Her shout immediately prompted someone to push the door open from inside the room.
It was a young girl dressed as a palace maid, with sharp features, frowning as she scolded in a low voice: "Who is so bold as to make such noise and clamor here!"
Jiang Yu prostrated herself: "Please, Miss, report to Her Highness that Jiang Yu can solve the princess's worries!"
The maid wore an impatient expression: "What worries could the princess have that you could solve?"
She waved to the guards: "Drag her away, don't disturb the princess's peaceful sleep."
The guards stepped forward and began to pull her out.
Jiang Yu made up her mind and shouted loudly: "Your Highness! Your Highness!"
The maid immediately became anxious and was about to have someone cover her mouth.
From inside the room came a crash, as if something had fallen and broken on the floor.
A voice tinged with childishness came from the room: "What's all this noise! Do none of you want to live anymore!"
The maid shuddered and instinctively prostrated herself on the ground: "Your Highness, please calm your anger. This servant will have her taken away immediately."
Jiang Yu said hastily: "Your Highness, this commoner woman has a treasure unmatched in all the world to give! It can solve Your Highness's urgent need!"
There was a moment of silence inside the room, then the lights turned on.
"Bring her in!"
Jiang Yu sighed in relief.
The maid glared at her and led her inside the room.
Inside the room, a high-quality sandalwood incense was burning in the incense burner, smoke curling upward.
On the bed sat a girl of fourteen or fifteen, her hair loose, with a noble and gorgeous appearance. Her bright, round, clear eyes held a naively charming yet noble and precious air.
At this moment, the girl's chin was slightly raised, her face showing the irritation of being woken, and she stared fixedly at Jiang Yu.
Jiang Yu knelt on the floor: "This commoner woman pays her respects to the princess."
The princess did not tell her to rise, only said impatiently: "You disturb people's sleep late at night. You'd better truly have a treasure unmatched in all the world! Otherwise, I will throw you to the back mountain to feed the wolves!"
The Emperor Father's birthday was approaching. The other princesses were sparing no effort, especially the Empress's Fourth Princess, who was competing with her at every turn.
Moreover, for some reason, the Emperor Father and the Imperial Consort Mother had had a disagreement and had not visited the Imperial Consort Mother's palace for nearly two months now…
Thinking of the Imperial Consort Mother's depressed appearance, the princess's expression couldn't help but darken slightly. She truly did need a gift that could please the Emperor Father.
Jiang Yu secretly observed the princess's expression before replying: "This commoner woman's treasure is absolutely unmatched. This commoner woman's elder brother often sails overseas. A few days ago, he sent back a treasure called the Snow Dragon Pearl. The classics record that this pearl can expel poison and avoid harm, nourish the body, and if placed by the pillow at night, it also has a sleep-inducing effect."
The princess sat upright: "Is this true?"
The Emperor Father was busy with court affairs, plagued by excessive worry, and often had difficulty sleeping at night. This item was indeed suitable.
Jiang Yu said respectfully: "I would never dare deceive Your Highness. The pearl is at this commoner woman's home. Your Highness can send someone to fetch it at any time."
The princess's eyes lit up: "Good. If it truly has this effect, I will certainly give a heavy reward!"
Jiang Yu bowed deeply: "Your Highness, this commoner woman now faces an approaching disaster. I fear it will be difficult for me to return home alive tomorrow…"
The princess showed confusion: "Disaster?"
Jiang Yu carefully considered her words and recounted the incident of Xue Ji, the son of a vice minister, entering her room with ill intentions and being accidentally killed by her.
After listening, the Princess's slightly frowned brow gradually relaxed, and she did not mind: "It's just the death of a worthless wastrel, I thought it was some big deal! Rest assured, if it truly is as you say, I will help you resolve it then."